Crucell Buys Xcellerex’ Bioproduction Line and Disposable Bioreactors

Crucell acquired a FlexFactory™ bioproduction line and multiple XDR single-use bioreactors from Xcellerex. The products will be enabled at Crucell’s facility in Leiden, The Netherlands, during the first quarter of 2010.

“In addition to coming on line rapidly, the FlexFactory platform has great potential to increase our operational efficiency based on its flexibility for multidrug production, use of disposables, and reduced operating expenses,” notes Cees de Jong, COO at Crucell.

The agreement follows collaborative design work by the two companies over a period of several months. Xcellerex is also providing support, training, and contract manufacturing services to help accelerate Crucell’s deployment efforts. The FlexFactory line will be assembled, tested, and operated at Xcellerex for protocol development and simultaneous operator training. Xcellerex may also complete engineering and/or GMP manufacturing runs for Crucell before moving the modular FlexFactory line to the Leiden facility for site validation and start-up.